The Nets protection remained stout Monday, as did the group’s current profitable methods.
They smothered the Hornets 97-89 earlier than 16,013 at Barclays Middle, hurting their lottery odds however serving to their vibes.
The Nets (19-34) have had the very best protection within the league over the previous two weeks, and that has coincided with them profitable 5 of their previous six video games.
Granted, followers embracing the tank could debate the worth of that. They sit sixth within the lottery standings, falling 5 video games behind the fourth-slotted Hornets (13-38) and three behind idle Toronto for the fifth-best lottery odds.
However for the gamers themselves, this stretch has been candy approaching the heels of a seven-game skid.
The Nets allowed simply 41 p.c capturing and 6 of 31 from deep. The middle platoon of Nic Claxton (16 factors, two blocks, two steals) and Day’Ron Sharpe (14 factors, 9 rebounds) led the way in which and anchored the protection.
The Nets led by as many as 22 and, after star Charlotte guard LeMelo Ball left with a sore proper ankle, have been by no means challenged.
This was almost a wire-to-wire rout. The Nets allowed eight unanswered early, falling behind 15-9 after Ball discovered Nick Smith Jr. for a operating 3-pointer.
Down 25-21, the Nets responded with a 9-1 run. Tosan Evbuomwan’s floater put them up 30-26 with a minute left within the first.
They reeled off 9 unanswered in a 1 ½-minute blitz early within the second, with Keon Johnson’s 3-pointer making it 47-36 with 7:23 left within the half.
D’Angelo Russell’s free throw on a transparent path foul capped a 21-8 run, padding the cushion to 59-44 with 2:21 remaining within the third. The remaining was rubbish time, with the Nets by no means wanting again.
They gained handily regardless of a beauty 14-0 Hornets run late within the fourth.
Trendon Watford completed with 13 factors and a game-high plus-26. Moussa Diabate had a game-high 21 for the Hornets.